Five Reasons To Visit Jump Season At Cheltenham Racecourse

With The Showcase having just kicked off the 2017-8 Jump Season at Cheltenham, our appetite for a day at the races has been well and truly piqued.

From The November Meeting right through to The Festival next March, there are plenty of chances to visit. Here’s why you should plan a trip…

1 To rock rural chic

For fashion-forward sports fans, the chance to roll out a carefully-curated country cool outfit is one of the most compelling reasons to pay a visit to Cheltenham. Tweed, checks and Barbour are the name of the game – save that flouncy dress and eccentric fascinator for other occasions. Smart wellies trump spiky stilettos: pay equal mind to function and form.

2 To drink English fizz

There’ll be plenty of excuses to raise a toast – not least the fact that England is producing such wonderful wines. For fizz, The Jockey Club’s vineyard of choice is Ridgeview; established in the South Downs in 1995 and producer of the official sparkling wine of No. 10 Downing Street. Bloomsbury is the signature style or, if you fancy a pink drink, try the Fitzrovia.

3 To have a flutter

You don’t have to go mad (a concept easier to suggest and ascribe to before a few glasses of fizz), but it’d be a crying shame to spend a day at the races without placing a single bet. Whether you back your horse because of odds, name or a liking for the jockey’s jersey, having a flutter will up the excitement level to no end… and might even see you heading home quids in.

4 To sample superior catering

Regional executive chef Tom Parry and his team make much of seasonal, local produce – so if you’re enjoying The Jockey Club’s hospitality, you’ll get to dine on the likes of Hobbs House bakery bread, sustainably-caught locally-smoked salmon, hand-raised pork pies, roasted rare heritage meats, pretty pastries and a Cheltenham Cheeseboard.

5 To admire the view

Cheltenham Racecourse is set against the most stunning rural backdrop, and there’s nowhere better to drink in that landscape and the on-course action than the Princess Royal Stand. The two year-old grandstand spans five-and-a-half storeys-worth of state-of-the-art entertaining areas – everything from bars and restaurants to private hospitality boxes (including one for the Royals).